Art Basel 2012: Strong sales and more than 65,000 visitors

The 43rd edition of Art Basel in Switzerland closed on Sunday, June 17, 2012.

This year, the annual reunion of the international artworld again attracted 65,000 artists, collectors, curators, and art lovers from around the globe. Collectors from all over the world confirmed that excellent material and booth presentations spurred great demand, creating strong sales throughout the week and across all levels of the market.

Over 70 museum and institution groups, representing almost all the world’s major museums visited Art 43 Basel, as did major private collectors from North and South America, all of Europe and the emerging markets of the artworld. An increase in collectors from Asia, especially Hong Kong and China, was noticeable. At Art 43 Basel, whose main sponsor is UBS, more than 300 galleries from 36 countries on six continents exhibited works by over 2,500 artists.

Donald Young Gallery, Chicago.

Many stands featured thematic exhibitions and one-person shows, presenting the highest quality of historical material and contemporary works. Sculptures featured heavily in the Art Galleries sector, and were shown alongside paintings, works on paper, and photography, all mediums which continued to be strongly represented.